Pyongyang celebrates 2018. Video of fireworks.

One of the comments states that the footage was shot from the Chinese border.

Here is another comment

Surviving susan1 hour ago

Kims likes fireworks more than feeding his people.

Exactly. Rocket Man...

Happy New Year all.

중국은 북한난민의 탈출장소인 동시에 통일 이후 북한정권의 범죄자 탈출 장소

지금은 북한정권에 대한 불만과 남한에서의 자유를 원해서 중국으로 탈출하는 북한난민이 많다. 중국은 북한난민의 인권에 대해서 관심이 없다.

그러나 통일이 되면 그 동안 북한에서 북한난민들에게 나쁜 짓을 했던 사람들이 처벌이 두려워 중국으로 많이 도망갈 것 같다.
중국은 통일 이후 중국으로 탈출한 이런 북한 범죄자들에 대해서 인권을 지켜줄까?

중국은 국경 근처에 대규모 북한난민 Camp를 건설하려고 한다. 중국은 통일 이전에는 자유를 찾아서 탈출하는 장소로 선택받지만, 통일 이후에는 북한 정권의 범죄자들이 탈출하는 장소로 이용될 것 같다.

If the USA fails in the diplomatic solution with China, Russia, and other countries

If the USA fails in the diplomatic solution with China, Russia, and other countries, then it will be the worst day to North Korea because of the military action the USA will take.

I hope North Korea will listen to the voice from the world. The USA will not be patient anymore if the USA feels the severe threat from North Korea. The USA will never allow another attack on Pearl Harbor and another attack on World Trade Center.

http://news.joins.com/article/22227936

South Korean high school students are publishing a magazine whose title is "Happy Unification of Korea".

South Korean high school students are publishing a magazine whose title is "Happy Unification of Korea".

They hosted a photo exhibition about the Unification of Korea, a conference to talk about the Unification of Korea, a dictionary to understand the meaning of South Korean words.
They also made an application to introduce historic spots near subway stations in Seoul, the Capital of Korea.

Especially high school students at Yongin high school of foreign studies have been conducting a project whose name is "Wing Project". They select one North Korean refugee and help him or her to make his and her dreams come true during one year.

They take a tour to an amusement park together with North Korean refugees at their age, visit his or her school with a package of pizza and host a Christmas party for him or her.

http://webzine.nuac.go.kr/sub.php?number=770

Park Chol-Ho walks through the DMZ to South Korea

Dated 1996.

This is one very lucky and relieved individual who must have had an angel on his shoulder.

Kiwis and Kimchis

First time seeing this short story but it has over three million views.

It is about a group of five New Zealanders (Kiwis) who decide to ride their motorbikes from the Russian/North Korean border to South Korea.
Not that much in it really as they were, of course, escorted from start to finish but it's a good story and you actually see North Koreans having fun and dancing with the guests.

More signs that the North Korean people are not buying the propaganda

Calendars are being issued by the state but have changed their themes to not include the Kim Dynasty since it's not so good for sales. 😝😝😝🌄

It is surprising too that happy new year is printed in English.

http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?num=14898&cataId=nk01500

Secretary of State Tillerson proposing plans for a sudden North Korean regime collapse

It is interesting that Secretary of State Tillerson would be talking about a sudden regime collapse.

I would like nothing more than to see a sudden regime collapse and I am sure the poor unfortunates in the gulags this winter would agree.

http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?num=14896&cataId=nk03600

There is also this guy who swears for sure an attack is planned for North Korea. he is basing this on the fact that the Chinese stated that should the North Korean regime attack first, they would not intervene.
This gives the shadow government a perfect inroad to execute a false flag event and blame it on North Korea.

Here is his latest article on why he thinks it's going to happen.
To understand where he's coming from we first must understand that Trump, Congress, the British Prime Minister, Canadian Prime Minister or any of these other so-called leaders are really just front men. puppets. the real power is behind the scenes. faces we never see. if they want a war, there will be war. if they want regime change then it will happen..

http://www.alt-market.com/articles/3329-why-the-globalists-need-a-war-and-soon

남한과 북한말 너무 달라요. (Different expressions between South and North Korea)

남한과 북한말 너무 달라요.

한반도 통일이 되면 무엇이 가장 심각한 문제가 될까? 서로 대화가 제대로 되지 않을 것 같다. 말이 달라도 너무 다르다.
가벼운 대화라면 대충 무슨 말인지 알아들을 수 있지만, 좀 더 깊은 대화는 불가능할 것 같다.


지금은 국어국문학과 졸업생들이 취업이 잘 되지 않아서 고생하지만, 통일이 되면 가장 인기 있는 직업이 아마도 국어 선생님이 되지 않을까?

북한 사투리를 사용하는 분들이 남한 표준어를 배워야 하지 않을까?

http://nkinfo.unikorea.go.kr/nkp/term/skNkLangCompare.do

Interesting short documentary on the unification debate

The one thing that comes up all the time is that North Koreans in the south say they feel unwelcome but there is some interesting information in this report.
It seems the South Korean government is very afraid of a sudden collapse of the north regime because they think it would create a massive influx of refugees from the north which they would have a hard time managing.

So China wants a buffer and South Korea is afraid of the sudden collapse of the regime.
there is the answer then. they are ok with thousands rotting in gulags as long as China gets its stability on its eastern border and South Korea is afraid of the huge cost

Unlikely alliance. a former prison guard and prisoner team up to raise awareness of the North Korean gulags

This is what can happen when the lies of the state are revealed and are encouraging for unification.

Shin Dong Hyuk a former prisoner and Anh Myung Chul a former prison guard come together to tell the world about the atrocities of the North Korean regime.

Shin Dong Hyuk is known for his human rights activism and the book "escape from camp 14"

Anh has started his own human rights organization called 'NKwatch' and wrote the book "they are crying for help"

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/05/north-korean-prisoner-gulag-guard

There is a video clip embedded in the article of the testimony of Anh Myung Chul but I will put it here anyway.

A quiz contest for the Unification of Korea was held in Samcheok.

A quiz contest for the Unification of Korea was held in Samcheok.
The main purpose of the quiz contest is to let more young students get interested in the unification of Korea.

180 students from Samcheok high school participated in the quiz contest.

http://www.kns.tv/news/articleView.html?idxno=383901

British government stopped Official Development Assistance to North Korea

The Foreign Affairs department of Great Britain announced that British government stopped Official Development Assistance to North Korea because of North Korea's human rights violations and its development trial of nuclear weapons.

North Korea will be more and more isolated if they continue to violate human rights in North Korea and threatening the world peace by shooting missiles.

http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2017/11/24/2017112400864.html

What Kim Jong Un is afraid of.

What Kim Jong Un is afraid of.

Kim Jong Un is afraid of North Korean people's interest in cultures and economic status in South Korea, and changes in North Korean people's mind that they must protect their lives by themselves regardless of politics and decisions of the North Korean regime.

Kim Jong Un uses horror to control North Korea such as execution in front of the public or nuclear weapons.

http://www.hankookilbo.com/v/401cb22d2e4747fab9ccb75ae7b8e4a0

Landmines overseas

  Located in Ganghwa island in South Korea, Dongmak beach is a vacation hotspot for South Koreans and foreigners, including US military.

  However, there has been reports of landmines being discovered along the beach, and some consider that it may be from North Korea. It's assumed that North Korean soldiers attempt to victimize residents and foreigners in South Korea, by means of flowing landmines using natural ocean current.

  There have been 110 cases so far, including several casualties. Especially during rainy season, July and August, the situation is more severe, since the water level increases and thus making the mines easier to reach. The mines are shaped like metal bricks and will explode when pressured.

It will take about 20 years for the standard of the health condition to be the same as that of South Korea.

It will take about 20 years for the standard of the health condition to be the same as that of South Korea.

North Korea is short of doctors, nurses, and medicine. It will take 20 years for South Korea and North Korea to decrease the gap of life expectation, death rate, and disease incidence rate.

http://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/1ONOFLPRH6

Purging of military members due to family defections

This is the guilt by association thing again.
Looks like Kim Jong-Un and the OGD (Organization and Guidance Department) are getting worried about their grip on power so they are taking extra measures to ensure less likely dissidents within the ranks.
This will not stop the discontent though since from what I have been reading, the military are half starved and morale is bad. there will be discontent regardless.

http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?num=14876&cataId=nk01500

Interview with Greg Scarlatoiu of HRNK

I came across this interview on DailyNK while looking for something else but thought it was worth posting here.

Greg is a Romanian who lived through the Ceausceseu dictatorship back in the 70's and 80's.
When he became aware of the massive starvation of North Koreans in the 90's he got interested and realized that the North Korean regime was similar to the Ceauscesu regime and this prompted him to become an activist and eventually founded HRNK.

He states that no dictatorship lasts forever and is concentrating on making North Koreans aware of their innate human rights.

https://www.hrnk.org

There is a video of the interview included but they are speaking Korean.

http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk02500&num=14091

Below is a short interview with Radio Free Asia about the indoctrination of the kids in North Korea. (You could say the same about the west as well although not as overt)

Communism, Islam, North Korea - Why NK develops mlitary so fast?

  Ever wondered why North Korea has gained its missile and nuclear technologies in such a skyrocketing pace?

  When North Korea was under the rule of Kim Il Sung, its founder, there was hardly any news nor military threats toward the outside world. Since his death and his son Kim Jong Il came to power in 1994, we start to hear and gain more awareness about the country little by little, but its technology and scale is still far from threatening. Since Kim Jong Un's era after 2012, especially recently, the scale, frequency of test, and level of technology has grown so large an extent that its existence makes one impossible to ignore.

  So Who is behind North Korea? The answer is: Russia (Soviet Union), China, Iran and Pakistan.
It dates back to the time when Russia was still Soviet Union. North Korea's weapons, especially nuclear ones, and technology are mainly from Soviet Union. China is another "friend" who has been supporting DPRK politically and economically for decades. Some photos expose that a part of weapons and complimentary military tools are "Made in China".

  It's not surprising that Communist countries are allied, to combat "Western forces". But how about Islamic countries? In a nutshell, their agenda is similar to Communist countries, as "anti-West". Those countries used to be moderate and much more peaceful until late 1970s and early 1980s, when fundamentalism and religious fanaticism took place. There may be other minor players, but it's widely known that Iran and Pakistan are trading weapons with DPRK, which at least provides it economical benefits. DPRK has diplomatic ties with many Islamic countries, while it doesn't recognize Israel, as many hard core Islamic countries also don't.

Encouraging news for the unification of Korea

I am currently reading the book, "North Korea's hidden revolution"
It states that many young North Koreans think nothing of their government, call Kim Jong-Un just Jong-Un which is irreverent and are hungry for foreign media and information. they are independent of the state and want only to be left alone by the regime.

The god likes aura of the regime is fading.

Here are some examples

Dissidents publicly showing their disapproval at the regime
The footage is scrappy but when you get to the 3:19 mark, you can see a banner denouncing Kim Jong Il and then a defaced picture of Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Il (not sure which)
Very risky and an instant death sentence if caught yet they did it.
There is a whole article underneath the youtube clip as well that you can read.

The recent South Korean drama, "Descendants of the sun" is a big hit in North Korea.
North Koreans seem to be huge movie buffs and will gladly pay for these episodes at the Jngmadang, black market in North Korea.

https://saigoneer.com/asia-news/6908-south-korea-s-latest-drama-is-a-hit-in-north-korea

The report below states that the recent defection of the North Korean soldier that was all over the news recently likes K pop, transformers and American drama called CSI.
He is 24 years old. he is of the younger generation of North Koreans who are hungry for outside information and most importantly, influenced enough to do something about it.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/north-korean-soldier-defected-south-loves-watching-music/story?id=51323033

This device is reported to be the preferred choice for North Koreans and the article states that there is a market specifically for the North Korean black market.
They like it because it is small, plays Dvd, Usb and is a television all in one. if the security goons come banging on the door, they can have a Russian movie in the Dvd player and just pull out the Usb holding South Korean media or vice versa

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/03/a-50-device-is-breaking-north-korean-governments-grip-on-media/

Here is another example of the tide changing.
Due to the dissemination of outside media, North Koreans are saying Geonbae! which is a South Korean term for cheers!
But the most noticeable thing is they are not toasting the regime but health and prosperity for themselves.
The article states that there are differences of opinion between young and old but this is to be expected.

http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?num=14871&cataId=nk01500

North Korea is like a boat with a hole at the bottom

North Korea is like a boat with a hole at the bottom so that sanctions must be strengthened to let the boat sink peacefully.
We must apply more pressure, more sanctions, more information flow into North Korea to stimulate fundamental changes inside North Korea rather than stopping nuclear weapons.

Non-profit organizations in South Korea are short of financial support even though they devote themselves to focus on information flows into North Korea.

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20171122/87392750/1

NKinUSA (www.nkinusa.org) is also working for raising awareness of the human rights violations in North Korea.

North Korea gave cold soldier to Xi Jinping's envoy.

North Korea gave cold soldier to Xi Jinping's envoy.

Xi Jinping's envoy could not meet Kim Jong Un during his visit to North Korea. North Korea seems to refuse pressure about Nuclear weapons from China. North Korea still believes China will not give up strong ties with them.

How long will the strong tide between China and North Korea continue?

http://www.pressian.com/news/article.html?no=177686

Young North Koreans set up their own cafe in Seoul

The article is dated back to 2015, almost 3 years ago since this was posted so I don't know how the business is going now but it was good to see the enthusiasm on their faces which you'll see if you scroll down the page.

This is how I would like to see all North Koreans. full of enthusiasm and goals for their futures.

jieunbaek.com/grab-next-latte-cafe-red-cherry-seoul-based-cafe-run-north-korean-new-settlers/

Interview with Jieun Baek, a human rights activist

There's no point me listening to it because it's in Korean but for those of you who understand it, here it is.
It was transmitted into North Korea sometime in 2015 out of the United Media Group studios in Seoul

Jieun Baek is a human rights activist and wrote the book, "North Koreas' hidden revolution"

The Url to the interview is on the website below.

https://jieunbaek.com/a-radio-program-that-broadcasts-into-north-korea-featuring-yours-truly/

North and South Korean students work together to help homeless in Seoul

I've started reading a book called "North Koreas hidden revolution" by Jieun Baek.

I also found that she has a blog and posted this article about students helping out the homeless of Seoul the organization is called UNI SEED directed by Esther Eom who is a defector.

www.uniseed.kr/

Someone in the organization came up with the idea of helping out the homeless which gives a great positive boost to the image of North Koreans in South Korea.

This promotes unification.

https://jieunbaek.com/north-korean-defector-students-serving-homeless-people-in-seoul/

And here is her blog

https://jieunbaek.com

And drats!  I missed this documentary at Harvard.

 If I'd known about it, I would have gone.

A Tale of 2 Koreas in 1 Clear Picture

I found an interesting and straight-forward visualization of situations in the 2 Koreas.

1. Huge economic gap (GDP).

2. Although DPRK has only half of South Korea's population, it has much more military personnel.

3. DPRK has a densely militarized population, but the gap of military spending is huge. But although little when compared to South, military spending occupies a quarter of North's GDP.

4. DPRK is almost the most-corrupted country in the world. (A paradox that Communist countries tend to be corrupted rather than attaining a common welfare for the people)

5. 100% literacy rate in North Korea? It's either an un-authentic report from the government or that the regime prefer children attending school so that they can indoctrinate their ideology through brainwashing in class.

6. Although being the same ethnicity, the gap of life expectancy and average height, as well as difference in language is a sorrowful product of separation.

7. North Korea has merciless punishment for activities they define as "crime", including enjoying South Korean videos and songs, or escaping the country.

(You can click the picture to see a clearer and bigger view)

The nutrition condition of North Korean soldiers is not good

Judging from the nutrition condition of the North Korean defector escaped through JSA, foods supplies to military soldiers are not good.

The soldier weighs below 60 kgs (132 Pounds) even though he is 170 cm (5.6 feet) tall. The average height of South Korean high school students is 173.5 cm (5.7 feet) and the average weight is 70 kg (154 Pounds).

http://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/nk_nuclear_talks/nksoldiers-11162017084850.html

A conference for the roles of young people in EU for the unification of Korea.

A conference for the roles of young people in EU for the unification of Korea.

The minister of foreign affairs from South Korea and Korean Ambassador to Germany attend the lecture

The main purpose of the conference was to encourage Korean communities as well as many young people in Europe to look into the unification of Korea.

Participants discussed their roles for the unification of Korea.

Former prime minister of Germany, Helmut Kohl emphasized that Korea should keep good relationships with neighboring countries for the unification of Korea.  People in West Germany wanted freedom of people in East Germany.  Unification does not bring freedom, but freedom brings unification.

http://www.dongponews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=35517

통일에 대한 한국인의 부정적인 생각들 (Negative viewpoints of Koreans on the unification of Korea)

통일에 대한 한국인의 부정적인 생각들 (Negative viewpoints of Koreans on the unification of Korea)

중학교에 다닐 때 친구들과 통일에 대해서 대화를 해 본 적이 있다.
친구들은 통일을 두려워 하고 있었다.

통일이 되면 북한사람들이 자신의 동네를 돌아다닐 것이다. 남한의 범죄율이 증가할 것이다....
통일이 되면 북한의 낙후된 시설을 보수하고 개선하기 위해서 남한 사람들이 세금을 많이 내야 한다....

초등학교 때 판문점을 갔던 기억이 있다. 북한사람들에 대해서 무서운 이야기를 많이 들었기 때문에 두려웠다. 그런데 북한 군인들의 모습은 옆집 아저씨들과 아주 비슷했다.

부정적인 생각은 부정적인 교육에서 시작된 것 같다.
누가 이런 부정적인 교육을 시키는 것일까?

김정은과 그를 따르는 고위 간부들이 문제가 아닐까?
북한의 많은 대다수 평범한 주민들은 질병, 가난, 빈곤, 인권침해로 고생하고 있다.
하루 빨리 통일이 되어야 하지 않을까?

I wish the unification of Korea is not a dream!

This sounds like a good plan for reunification

This proposal was put together by Moon J. Pak

Moon J. Pak, M.D., Ph.D, is the senior vice-president of the Korean American National Coordinating Council (KANCC) and a physician in Detroit, Michigan.

http://www.zoominkorea.org/reunification-on-the-korean-peninsula-toward-a-peaceful-confederation/ 

President Trump declared North Korea a terror-supporting country to continue sanctions on North Korea.

President Trump declared North Korea a terror-supporting country to continue sanctions on North Korea.

North Korea should abandon nuclear weapons to avoid sanctions from the UN and the USA.
What is the next step Kim Jong Un can choose?

https://www.voakorea.com/a/4126882.html

How to let North Korean know about the outside world?

A few days ago I received a question from Mr. Hüşeyin Deniz who is a teacher in the field of arts and social studies at school.

"We know that the most efficient way toward North Korea's regime change is to let the people know about the outside world.

But the question is How?

What will you suggest? Some activist like Mr. Mark Sleet is sending USB stick and other radio broadcasters are trying too. But how can WE, as independent individuals do? Are there any ways of spreading digital media to the people without being noticed and controlled by the government?

You may consult with your friends or supervisors in the organization..."

I think many North Korean people, especially the poor ones, don't even have access to computers. But they have DVD players, and some have radios which are illegal products. South Korean DVDs are banned in North Korea, but many of them are secretly smuggled. 

I don't know much but hope there are more ways to let the common people change their impression of the US and South Korea, and know their own situation. 

I have not yet thought of this question before, but his question is very fundamental and important to find ways to let North Koreans know about the outside world.

All I do is just writing posts on the blogs to let more people look into the problems of human rights crisis in North Korea, but I wonder if North Koreans read the posts.

I delivered his question to Mr. Greg Forman, director of communications and development of NKinUSA because it was not an easy question to answer.

Today I received an email from Mr. Gre Forman about his answer to the question.

"Except for what Mr. Mark Sleet has done by donating USB sticks, I'm not sure what else specifically someone can do to spread information into North Korea as an individual.  

I agree that helping people in North Korea know about the outside world is extremely important.  Many defectors have said that hearing a radio broadcast or seeing other information is what prompted them to leave North Korea.  

There are different groups that are doing this using both high-tech and low-tech methods (eg. balloon launches and radio broadcasts in addition to smuggling USB sticks).  Most of these groups are private getting little or no government or support or funding.  

I'm not sure if my colleagues have anything else to add to this."

I decided to upload the answer from Mr. Greg Forman as well as the question from Mr. Hüşeyin Deniz because their communications are so meaningful to others.

Do you have any other opinions?

NKinUSA is a non-profit organization for North Korean refugees in the United States. I have been writing posts on this blog for human rights crisis of North Koreans as a volunteer service.

What happens after North Korean regime's Collapse?

  We all know the North Korean regime has been shaky, like a tooth that is falling out.
But the question is: What's Next?

   First of all, what is sure is that there will be massive refugees flowing into South Korea and China.
The Political aspect may be more complex, and has several possibilities:
1. Since the "Western block" led by USA and "Eastern block", mainly China and Russia may still have the intension to expand and control the geo-politics, there may be a conflict over the land with no lord.
2. A more peaceful alternative of 1. which is by negotiation along with South Korea and Japan, but who is going to be the future leader and what type of regime will take control is uncertain.
3. Reunification by peaceful means. With substantial aid and reconstruction, the new country - Korea will be based on Democracy and Peace. This is the most hopeful and best situation, and indeed not impossible, like East and West Germany also unified ultimately.

How to help rescue North Korea refugees and how to help North Korean defectors' resettlement in the USA

How to help rescue North Korea refugees.
How to help North Korean defectors' resettlement in the USA.



AmazonSmile

Every time you purchase at AmazonSmile, you can help North Korean refugees.



How?
It is very simple.



Have you heard of AmazonSmile?

smile.amazon.com



Firstly, search "North Korean Refugees in the United States" at amazon smile.
Pick your own charitable organizations: "North Korean refugees in the United States"
And Search




Select "North Korean Refugees in the United States"




Then, your donations will be automatically submitted to help North Korean refugees every time you shop at AmazonSmile.




Isn't it simple?

NKinUSA (North Korean refugees in the United States) in a non-profit organization, based in Washington, DC, which aims to help North Korean refugees escape safely from North Korea through China, assist with the resettlement of refugees currently living in the United States, and spread awareness about the persecution and severe human rights crisis of the North Korean people.

T-Shirts

25 Dollar shirt will make a miracle to rescue North Korean refugees.

If you buy a 25 dollar T-shirt, then all funds raised will go directly to save North Korean refugees in the United States of America.

You can buy the shirt at the following website.
The size of T-Shirts are Small, Medium, Large, and X Large.

www.nkinusa.org



Paypal or Check

NKinUSA (North Korean Refugees in the United States) hosts musical concerts in the Spring every year to raise funds for North Korean refugees. The music concert is called "Hope of Spring". Through the musical concerts, NKinUSA is raising a fund to rescue North Korean refugees safely from North Korea.

NKinUSA was founded by former North Korean defectors so that they know what kinds of pains and persecution North Koreans have been going through and what North Korean refugees and defectors really need.

NKinUSA is organizing many kinds of fundraising events. Even if you are unable to attend such various kinds of fundraising events, you can help North Korean refugees.



If you want to support North Korean refugees and defectors in the United States, then you can send money directly to NKinUSA by "Paypal" or checks to NKinUSA.

NKinUSA
2020 Pennsylvania Ave NW #168
Washington DC, 20006

info@nkinusa.org
202-670-6587

www.nkinusa.org/how-you-can-help/fundraising/